Tunisia Launches Ambitious Solar Energy Projects
Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy Kicks Off Construction of Two Solar Power Plants
In the presence of Minister of Industry, Mines, and Energy, Fatma Thabet Chiboub, a ceremony was held to mark the laying of the first stone for the construction of two solar power plants in the delegation of Feriana, Kasserine Governorate. The event was also attended by Wael Chouchane, Secretary of State for Energy Transition, Fayçal Trifa, CEO of the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company (STEG), Belhassen Chiboub, Director General of Electricity and Renewable Energy at the Ministry, as well as representatives from investing companies and funding institutions.
The companies "Qair" and "Mazarine" are responsible for implementing these projects under a licensing system. The financing is provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), with a total cost of approximately €14.5 million, or around 48 million dinars.
Fatma Thabet Chiboub highlighted that these projects, with a total capacity of 20 megawatts, will contribute to strengthening the national electricity grid while ensuring the quality and continuity of supply in the region, particularly during peak periods. She added that the implementation of these projects is part of the national strategy for energy transition, aiming to reach a 35% integration rate of renewable energies in the national electricity mix by 2030. This initiative will also encourage further investments in clean energy and reduce the primary energy deficit.
Wael Chouchane specified that these projects will produce an amount of electricity equivalent to that consumed by around 30,000 households and will save approximately 8,000 tons of natural gas per year, representing a value of around $4 million. He also indicated that these projects will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by around 17,000 tons per year. The commissioning of the projects is scheduled before summer 2025.
This ambitious project, integrating Huawei's inverter and Smart Transformer Station (STS) technologies, represents a major breakthrough for energy transition in Tunisia.
In this context, Omar Ben Hessine Bey, Institutional Affairs Manager at Qair Tunisia, stated that this project demonstrates Qair's ability to combine local expertise with international technological innovations, such as those offered by Huawei, to address Tunisia's energy challenges.
Farah Khalfaoui, Senior Channel Manager at Huawei Tunisia, added: "This project testifies to the synergy between Qair and Huawei to promote sustainable energy solutions. It's an important step that illustrates our commitment to supporting energy transition in Tunisia."
